Bobert, when surgeries take place sometimes the nerve tissue gets damaged. When the nerves hurt, muscle tissue tries to protect the damaged area by circling the wagons or tightening up and thus cause even more pain by squeezing even more nerves for a while. You'll understand that if you've ever slipped a disk or buggered up your back.

The last surgery I had left me in pain for about two months, then it went away real fast. The body tries to protect itself, and pain is the body's way of letting us know something is wrong--that something hurts. And that the body is "on the case."

Is there a neighbour nearby who could look in on PV while you're away?